Business boosters push transit plan

Proposed Bus Rapid Transit Routes

The first phase of the regional transportation plan calls for four ‘bus rapid transit’ corridors. Hybrid or electric buses would run on dedicated lanes with traffic lights synchronized to their crossings, "like light rail on wheels," supporters say.

Routes include:

1) An East-West line along Washington Street, including downtown to the airport.

2) 38th Street from Lawrence to Lafayette Square

3) Greenwood to downtown Indianapolis through Broad Ripple to Carmel

4) University of Indianapolis on the south side of Indianapolis along Keystone Avenue to Hamilton County.

Photo courtesy of by HerrVebah via Flickr Creative Commons

Several cities have embraced bus rapid transit, which supporters pitch as "light rail on wheels." This bus connects downtown Las Vegas to Nellis Air Force Base.

After years of study, the local business community, as
represented by the Central Indiana Transit Task Force, is now endorsing plans
to modernize and improve the regional transportation system — including a
0.3 percent local income tax increase to fund the effort.

Two major hurdles — both related to funding —
remain before such plans can be actualized. First, the Indiana General Assembly must
endow Central Indiana communities with the authority to vote on tax increases
dedicated to implementing local plans and enable the creation of a regional
transportation authority to oversee the process. Second, the voters must decide
that such improvements are needed and that the proposed plan is sufficient to
satisfy that need.

"It is important for taxpayers to decide for themselves
whether they think there's adequate value for their money," said CICP
Chief Executive Mark Miles at a news conference Tuesday.

Based on three years of study, and "more due diligence,
scrutiny and economic analysis ... than perhaps any other planning process of
this type anywhere in the country," Miles voiced confidence that voter
support could be won.

A roomful of business leaders and politicians packed the
room as other local leaders rose to offer their endorsements.

"This proposal, if approved by the General Assembly and
the voters in 2012, will have a dramatic impact on our region,"
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said.

"We can make this thing happen. I invite all of you to
join us on that journey."

Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, who, like Ballard is a
Republican, also voiced support of the plan, which he said would provide better
access to jobs, health care and educational opportunities, as well as greater
flexibility to people who can't drive.